We must rescue Ghana from extreme hardship – Duffuor declares intention to contest NDC flagbearership race
Former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor has officially declared his intention to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearership race.
Dr Duffuor, a former minister under the Atta-Mills – Mahama led administration, made his intention known on Thursday afternoon.
“Today, I officially announce my intention to contest for the Flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) anytime the party opens nominations.
“I will offer myself once again to serve the land of my birth with humility and sacrifice when given a chance to do so,” he said at a presser at the Ghana International Press Centre.
The former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and owner of the defunct uniBank said he was ready to lead the NDC in the 2024 elections.
“My fellow countrymen and women, throughout my life, whenever I have been called to serve my country, I have answered with alacrity. In 2009, you called me to serve as Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of the Republic. I answered the call.
“Clearly, Ghana is in a desperate crisis. And as a great British soldier once said, ‘if I have the liberty to wander in the streets, it is not my wisdom to do so when my house is on fire’.
“The temporary shifts we have grown used to in this country must give way to a permanent change in attitude and priorities. We must witness the dawn of a new era, where country trumps person and progress trumps power,” he added.
He indicated that in the next few weeks, he would go on a tour to meet party members to speak about issues, needs and dreams as citizens.
“I look forward to having those conversations and explaining what I mean by the Ghanaian Dream,” Dr Duffour indicated.
Dr. Duffour further assured that an NDC government in 2025 will bring about economic recovery from the current economic woes.
“Let us rescue our economy to end the hardship, pain and suffering of our fellow citizens. We are a great nation, and we have the capacity to rebuild our economy again as we did during 2009 –2012.
“Let’s all remember that ‘Sika mpɛ dede nanso ɛkɔm frɛ dede. Yɛ ani abere, ɛkɔm de yɛn.’ (To wit; although money does not like noise, hunger calls noise. We are angry and hungry),” he said in the Twi local dialect.
Dr Duffour served as Minister of Finance under the late President John Evans Atta Mills from 2009 and later under President John Mahama till 2013.
He is currently litigating the collapse of his bank at the Accra High Court. Dr. Kwabena Duffour and eight others are facing a total of 71 charges for various roles they played in what led to the collapse of his bank.
But in March 2021, Dr Duffuor and Prince Kofi Amoabeng of UT Bank petitioned Parliament to probe the revocation of their banking licenses.
The matter was referred to the ad-hoc committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
The committee was expected to submit its report to the House at the commencement of the second meeting of the first session of the 8th Parliament on May 18, 2021, but months afterwards, that has not happened.
Recently, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Bagbin, disclosed to the press that the committee was having challenges.
He explained that he had, on many occasions, drawn the attention of the committee to expedite its probe, but “we have not received any report from the committee.”
“They [committee] say they have few challenges, but the Standing Orders are very clear on that, that when a matter is referred to you, and you are unable to report, at least you have to send a report to give the House the reasons why you are unable to report on time.
“That one, too, they have defaulted, and this is a matter that will have to be handled in a manner that will improve rather than destroy. And that is why we have not come very hard on those issues,” he stated.
The Speaker made the disclosure at a media engagement in Parliament on Friday (October 28, 2022).
What to expect come 2024
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwabena Duffour has launched grassroots party empowerment and a self-financing project dubbed the “Ahot)” Project for the opposition NDC party.
The project is geared towards setting up all 275 constituencies with micro-businesses in order to create the much-needed but currently unavailable local cash flow for the day-to-day running of the NDC party at the grassroots level.